Methods, devices, and computer program products for providing ambient noise sensitive alerting

ABSTRACT

Methods, devices, and computer program products for providing ambient noise sensitive alerting. The methods comprise receiving ambient noise, converting the ambient noise to an electrical signal, detecting a parameter of the electrical signal which is indicative of ambient noise, sensing an incoming call or message, and controlling the volume of an audible alert in response to the detected parameter of the electrical signal.

BACKGROUND

Exemplary embodiments relate generally to communications and, moreparticularly, to methods, devices, and computer program products forproviding ambient noise sensitive alerting.

Portable communications devices such as pagers, cellular phones, laptopcomputers, and personal digital assistants (PDAs), may be used in any ofa wide variety of indoor and outdoor environments. One importantcapability of a portable communications device is to notify the user asto the presence of an incoming call or message. Such notification isoften performed using an audible alert. Users may adjust the volume ofthe audible alert, or disable the alert altogether, by navigatingthrough a sequence of nested menus to select appropriate options.Additionally, some portable communications devices permit selection of adesired melody or ring tone from a menu of predetermined alerts, as wellas downloading one or more audio files for use as an audible alert.

The volume of audible alert required to engage the user's attentionvaries in accordance with the user's current environment and, inparticular, with the current ambient noise level. A given audible alertvolume may seem annoyingly loud in a quiet meeting room, yet remainvirtually inaudible to the user on the street or in a train. At the sametime, many users do not wish to endure the inconvenience of repeatedlynavigating through nested menus to adjust the audible alert every timethe user enters a new environment. These users may opt for a compromiseaudible alert setting that works in many locations frequented by theuser, but is still inappropriately loud or soft for other locations.Accordingly, what is needed is a mechanism by which the volume of anaudible alert is automatically adjusted in accordance with ambientnoise.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments relate to methods of providing ambient noisesensitive alerting. These methods comprise receiving ambient noise,converting the ambient noise to an electrical signal, detecting aparameter of the electrical signal which is indicative of ambient noise,sensing an incoming call or message, and controlling the volume of anaudible alert in response to the detected parameter of the electricalsignal.

Additional exemplary embodiments include computer program productscomprising a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storinginstructions for execution by the processing circuit for facilitatingmethods of providing ambient noise sensitive alerting. The methodscomprise receiving ambient noise, converting the ambient noise to anelectrical signal, detecting a parameter of the electrical signal, whichis indicative of ambient noise, sensing an incoming call or message, andcontrolling the volume of an audible alert in response to the detectedparameter of the electrical signal.

Additional exemplary embodiments include a device for providing ambientnoise sensitive alerting. The device includes a microphone for receivingambient noise and converting the ambient noise to an electrical signal,an ambient noise level detection mechanism for detecting a parameter ofthe electrical signal which is indicative of ambient noise, an incomingcall sensing mechanism for sensing of an incoming call or message, andan audio signal generator operatively coupled to a loudspeaker forproviding an audible alert, wherein the incoming call sensing circuitrycontrols the volume of the audible alert in response to the detectedparameter of the electrical signal.

Other devices, methods, and/or computer program products according toembodiments will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art uponreview of the following drawings and detailed description. It isintended that all such additional systems, methods, and/or computerprogram products be included within this description, be within thescope of the exemplary embodiments, and be protected by the accompanyingclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are numbered alikein the several FIGURES:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary alerting device that may beutilized for providing ambient noise sensitive alerting.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of an exemplary process for providing ambientnoise sensitive alerting.

The detailed description explains the exemplary embodiments, togetherwith advantages and features, by way of example with reference to thedrawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary alerting device that may beutilized for providing ambient noise sensitive alerting. This devicecould, but need not, utilize one or more elements that are alreadypresent in a portable communications device such as a pager, cellularphone, laptop computer, personal digital assistant (PDAs), or othercommunications device. A microphone 101 receives acoustic energy fromambient surroundings and converts this acoustic energy into anelectrical signal. This acoustic energy includes ambient environmentalnoise. For example, if the microphone is situated at an airportterminal, the microphone may receive acoustic energy from a multiplicityof passengers engaged in conversations, luggage being wheeled aboutacross tile flooring, the roar of nearby jet engines, as well assporadic announcements over the airport's public address system. On theother hand, if the microphone is situated in an office conference room,the microphone may receive acoustic energy from climate controlequipment, buzzing fluorescent light fixtures, squeaky office chairs,cooling fans on computer equipment, and muted conversations from nearbyoffices. Microphone 101 may, but need not, be implemented using apiezoelectric transducer, a diaphragm coupled to a coil or capacitor, aloudspeaker, an electret element, or various combinations thereof.

The electrical signal produced by microphone 101 is fed to an ambientnoise level detection mechanism 103. Ambient noise level detectionmechanism 103 is capable of generating an output that is a function ofthe ambient noise level as determined by microphone 101. Ambient noiselevel detection mechanism 103 is implemented using any circuitry that iscapable of detecting an average, peak, or cumulative level in theelectrical signal across a predetermined or finite time interval. Forexample, ambient noise level detection mechanism 103 may include anintegrator for continuously or repeatedly integrating the electricalsignal, wherein the integration optionally utilizes a weightingfunction. Illustratively, the weighting function may be employed toemphasize recently acquired portions of the electrical signal whiledeemphasizing portions of the electrical signal that were not recentlyacquired. Alternatively or additionally, ambient noise level detectionmechanism 103 may comprise an averaging circuit for calculating arunning average for the amplitude of the electrical signal, asample-and-hold circuit for storing a signal sample above apredetermined threshold, an envelope detector for detecting the envelopeof the electrical signal, a sampling circuit for sampling the electricalsignal to generate a sequence of digitized samples, or variouscombinations thereof.

Ambient noise level detection mechanism 103 feeds a noise level signalrepresentative of ambient noise level to incoming call sensing circuitry105. Incoming call sensing circuitry 105 detects the presence of anincoming call or electronic message and, in response thereto, activatesan audio signal generator 107. Illustratively, incoming call sensingcircuitry 105 may be implemented using a microprocessor, logiccircuitry, discrete circuitry, or various combinations thereof. Incomingcall sensing circuitry 105 is capable of automatically adjusting thevolume of an audible alert in accordance with ambient noise. Optionally,incoming call sensing circuitry 105 permits user selection of a default,maximum, or minimum volume level for the audible alert, whereupon thevolume of the audible alert is then automatically adjusted in responseto ambient noise using the user selected default, maximum, or minimumvolume level as an initialization point or absolute limit. Optionally,incoming call sensing circuitry 105 permits user selection of a desiredmelody or ring tone from a menu of audible alerts, as well asdownloading one or more audio files for use as an audible alert.

The volume of audible alert required to engage the attention of acommunications device user varies in accordance with the user'senvironment and, in particular, with the current ambient noise level.Upon detecting an incoming call or message, incoming call sensingcircuitry 105 includes a control mechanism responsive to the noise levelsignal to control the volume of an audible alert generated by audiosignal generator 107. For example, incoming call sensing circuitry 105may adjust the volume of the audible alert to a relatively low level inan environment having low ambient noise such as a quiet meeting room,yet adjust the volume to a relatively high level in an environmenthaving high ambient noise such as an urban outdoor setting.

Due to the fact that ambient noise level detection mechanism 103 maysample ambient noise in a repeated or continuous manner, such samplingcould optionally be employed by call sensing circuitry 105 to supportfunctionality beyond adjusting the volume of the audible alert to adesired volume level at the beginning of alerting. For example, thevolume of the alert could be varied in a dynamic manner in response tochanges in ambient noise that occur substantially in real time.Illustratively, the volume of the alert could, but need not, be adjustedin response to changes in ambient noise level, such as when a user ofthe alerting device of FIG. 1 goes through a doorway from a quiet roomto a noisy room or vice versa.

Audio signal generator 107 is capable of generating electronic signalsrepresenting one or more audible alerts, such as a telephone ring tone,a beep, a melody, or various combinations thereof. Audio signalgenerator 107 may, but need not, be capable of generating electronicsignals corresponding to each of a plurality of user-selected audiblealerts. Optionally, incoming call sensing circuitry 105 may selectdifferent audible alerts as a function of ambient noise level.

Speaker 109 is capable of generating acoustic energy in response toelectrical signals produced by audio signal generator 107.Illustratively, speaker 109 may be implemented using a loudspeaker,piezoelectric transducer, audible annunciator, or various combinationsthereof. Optionally, microphone 101 and speaker 109 could be implementedusing a single device.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of an exemplary process for providing ambientnoise sensitive alerting. The process commences at block 201 whereambient noise is received. At block 203, the received ambient noise isconverted into an electrical signal. Blocks 201 and 203 may beperformed, for example, by microphone 101 (FIG. 1). Next, a parameter ofthe electrical signal that is indicative of ambient noise level isdetected (FIG. 2, block 205). This detection process may be performed byambient noise level detection mechanism 103 (FIG. 1). Illustratively,the detection process detects an average, peak, or cumulative level inthe electrical signal across a predetermined or finite time interval.Alternatively or additionally, the detection process continuously orrepeatedly integrates the electrical signal, wherein the integrationoptionally utilizes a weighting function. Illustratively, the weightingfunction may be employed to emphasize recently acquired portions of theelectrical signal while deemphasizing portions of the electrical signalthat were not recently acquired. Alternatively or additionally, thedetection process calculates a running average for the amplitude of theelectrical signal, or stores signal samples that are above apredetermined threshold, or detects the envelope of the electricalsignal, or detects the amplitude of the electrical signal, or acquiressamples of the electrical signal to generate a sequence of digitizedsamples, or various combinations thereof.

Next, an incoming call or message is received (FIG. 2, block 207). Theaudio signal generator is controlled in response to the detectedparameter of the electrical signal to provide an audible alert (block209). Optionally, a first user preference may be accepted whichspecifies a default, maximum, or minimum volume level for the audiblealert, whereupon the volume of the audible alert is then automaticallyadjusted in response to ambient noise using the user selected default,maximum, or minimum volume level as an initialization point or absolutelimit. Optionally, a second user preference may be accepted whichspecifies a desired melody or ring tone from a menu of audible alerts,or which provides for the downloading of one or more audio files for useas an audible alert, or various combinations thereof.

The volume of audible alert required to engage the attention of acommunications device user varies in accordance with the user'senvironment and, in particular, with the current ambient noise level.For example, the volume of the audible alert may be controlled at block207 to provide a relatively low volume level in an environment havinglow ambient noise such as a quiet meeting room, yet the volume of theaudible alert will be controlled to provide a relatively high volumelevel in an environment having high ambient noise such as an urbanoutdoor setting. Illustratively, the audible alert comprises one or moretelephone ring tone, a beep, a melody, or various combinations thereof.Optionally, block 207 may further include the step of selecting one ormore audible alerts from a menu of available audible alerts as afunction of ambient noise level.

Due to the fact that the ambient noise level may be sampled in arepeated or continuous manner at block 205, such sampling couldoptionally be employed at block 207 to support functionality beyondadjusting the volume of the audible alert to a desired volume level atthe beginning of alerting. For example, the volume of the alert could bevaried in a dynamic manner in response to changes in ambient noise thatoccur substantially in real time. Illustratively, the volume of thealert could, but need not, be adjusted in response to changes in ambientnoise level, such as when a user of the alerting device of FIG. 1 goesthrough a doorway from a quiet room to a noisy room or vice versa.

As described heretofore, the exemplary embodiments can be provided inthe form of computer-implemented processes and apparatuses forpracticing those processes. The exemplary embodiments can also beprovided in the form of computer program code containing instructionsembodied in tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD ROMs, harddrives, or any other computer-readable storage medium, wherein, when thecomputer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, thecomputer becomes an apparatus for practicing the exemplary embodiments.The exemplary embodiments can also be provided in the form of computerprogram code, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loadedinto and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over sometransmission medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, ortransmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electricalwiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagneticradiation, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into andexecuted by a computer, the computer becomes an apparatus for practicingthe exemplary embodiments. When implemented on a general-purposemicroprocessor, the computer program code segments execute specificmicroprocessor machine instructions. The computer program code could beimplemented using electronic logic circuits or a microchip.

While the invention has been described with reference to exemplaryembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted forelements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. Inaddition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situationor material to the teachings of the invention without departing from theessential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the inventionnot be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed for carrying outthis invention, but that the invention will include all embodimentsfalling within the scope of the claims. Moreover, the use of the termsfirst, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but ratherthe terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element fromanother. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote alimitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least oneof the referenced item.

1. A method for providing ambient noise sensitive alerting, the methodcomprising: receiving ambient noise, converting the ambient noise to anelectrical signal, detecting a parameter of the electrical signal whichis indicative of ambient noise, sensing an incoming call or message, andcontrolling the volume of an audible alert in response to the detectedparameter of the electrical signal.
 2. The method of claim 1 whereindetecting a parameter of the electrical signal comprises detecting atleast one of an average, peak, or cumulative level for the electricalsignal across a predetermined or finite time interval.
 3. The method ofclaim 1 wherein detecting a parameter of the electrical signal comprisescontinuously or repeatedly integrating the electrical signal.
 4. Themethod of claim 3 wherein the integrating is performed using a weightingfunction.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting a parameter of theelectrical signal comprises one or more of calculating a running averageof the amplitude of the electrical signal, storing samples of theelectrical signal that are above a predetermined threshold, detectingthe envelope of the electrical signal, detecting the amplitude of theelectrical signal, or acquiring samples of the electrical signal togenerate a sequence of digitized samples.
 6. The method of claim 1further comprising accepting a user preference specifying one or moreof: a default, maximum, or minimum volume level for the audible alert,or a desired ring tone or melody from a menu of audible alerts.
 7. Themethod of claim 1 further comprising repeatedly or continuouslydetecting a parameter of the electrical signal, which is indicative ofambient noise and dynamically controlling the volume of the audiblealert substantially in real time in response to the detected parameter.8. A computer program product comprising a storage medium readable by aprocessing circuit and storing instructions for execution by theprocessing circuit for facilitating a method of providing ambient noisesensitive alerting, the method comprising: receiving ambient noise,converting the ambient noise to an electrical signal, detecting aparameter of the electrical signal which is indicative of ambient noise,sensing an incoming call or message, and controlling the volume of anaudible alert in response to the detected parameter of the electricalsignal.
 9. The computer program product of claim 8 further comprisinginstructions for detecting a parameter of the electrical signal bydetecting at least one of an average, peak, or cumulative level for theelectrical signal across a predetermined or finite time interval. 10.The computer program product of claim 8 further comprising instructionsfor detecting a parameter of the electrical signal by continuously orrepeatedly integrating the electrical signal.
 11. The computer programproduct of claim 10 wherein the integrating is performed using aweighting function.
 12. The computer program product of claim 8 furthercomprising instructions for detecting a parameter of the electricalsignal by performing one or more of: calculating a running average ofthe amplitude of the electrical signal, storing samples of theelectrical signal that are above a predetermined threshold, detectingthe envelope of the electrical signal, detecting the amplitude of theelectrical signal, or acquiring samples of the electrical signal togenerate a sequence of digitized samples.
 13. The computer programproduct of claim 8 further comprising instructions for accepting atleast one of: a user preference specifying one or more of a default,maximum, or minimum volume level for the audible alert, or a userpreference specifying a desired ring tone or melody from a menu ofaudible alerts.
 14. The computer program product of claim 8 furthercomprising instructions for repeatedly or continuously detecting aparameter of the electrical signal, which is indicative of ambient noiseand dynamically controlling the volume of the audible alertsubstantially in real time in response to the detected parameter.
 15. Adevice for providing ambient noise sensitive alerting, the deviceincluding: a microphone for receiving ambient noise and converting theambient noise to an electrical signal, an ambient noise level detectionmechanism for detecting a parameter of the electrical signal which isindicative of ambient noise, an incoming call sensing mechanism forsensing of an incoming call or message, and an audio signal generatoroperatively coupled to a loudspeaker for providing an audible alert,wherein the incoming call sensing circuitry controls the volume of theaudible alert in response to the detected parameter of the electricalsignal.
 16. The device of claim 15 wherein the ambient noise leveldetection mechanism detects a parameter of the electrical signal whichis indicative of ambient noise by detecting at least one of an average,peak, or cumulative level for the electrical signal across apredetermined or finite time interval.
 17. The device of claim 15wherein the ambient noise level detection mechanism detects a parameterof the electrical signal which is indicative of ambient noise bycontinuously or repeatedly integrating the electrical signal.
 18. Thedevice of claim 17 wherein the integrating is performed using aweighting function.
 19. The device of claim 15 wherein the ambient noiselevel detection mechanism detects a parameter of the electrical signalwhich is indicative of ambient noise by performing one or more of:calculating a running average of the amplitude of the electrical signal,storing samples of the electrical signal that are above a predeterminedthreshold, detecting the envelope of the electrical signal, detectingthe amplitude of the electrical signal, or acquiring samples of theelectrical signal to generate a sequence of digitized samples.
 20. Thedevice of claim 15 further comprising an input mechanism for accepting auser preference specifying one or more of: a default, maximum, orminimum volume level for the audible alert, or a desired ring tone ormelody from a menu of audible alerts.